NBC2 Investigates: Why homeowners should test for this cancer-causing chemical

You can't see it, you can't smell it, but it could kill you. Radon, an invisible, radioactive gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Monday, September 17th 2018, 12:38 PM EDT by Rachel Polansky

Updated:

Tuesday, September 18th 2018, 8:06 AM EDT

You can't see it, you can't smell it, but it could kill you.

Radon, an invisible, radioactive gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

You might think about radon testing is only necessary in homes up north that have basements, but according to the Florida Department of Health, one in five Florida homes tested for radon have elevated levels.

The CDC says the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers is exposure to radon gas that can enter homes or schools from soil or building materials, and seep thru cracks and openings in the foundation.

"Radon is a radioactive gas. It's naturally occurring. It's colorless, odorless, tasteless. As humans, we are not able to detect it," said Matthew Schabath, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa.

Dr. Schabath is passionate about radon testing.

"The data shows unequivocally there are pockets throughout the state of Florida in any given county, even those low-risk counties, where you can find a given building or a given room in a building where you have very high levels of radon," said Dr. Schabath.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends all Florida homes get tested for radon, but the state doesn't require it.

Some say that's because of this 30-year-old map:

"That's why people don't think there's a big radon problem. They're looking at those maps that are 30 years old," said Gene Yacobacci, owner of Radon Mitigation Services in Naples. "Most radon in Southwest Florida is not from the soil. Most of the time, it's from the concrete, the aggregates in the concrete."

Yacobacci said he's alarmed that people are relying on information that's three decades old to make an important decision.

"They should call up the state and confirm information. Even when we provide quotes, I tell people don't believe what contractors tell you. Call around. Back up the information you're getting," said Yacobacci.

But, why is the map so old, and why not update it?

"The EPA map of radon potential was developed over 30 years ago. In the last ten years, states have asked the EPA to revise their map. However, due to limited funding EPA has not been able to do so and has encouraged states to develop their own maps based on their own data," Jorge Laguna with the Florida Department of Health said.

The EPA says the map isn't being used correctly for its intended purpose.

"The purpose of this map is to assist national, state and local organizations to target their resources and to implement radon-resistant building codes," said Dawn Harris-Young with the EPA. "This map is not intended to be used to determine if a home in a given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones. All homes should be tested regardless of geographic location. EPA recommends that this map be supplemented with any available local data in order to further understand and predict the radon potential for a specific area. As for funding, the map continues to serve its intended purpose: to inform the adoption of radon-resistant building codes, so it has not been updated. The map should not be viewed as a substitute for testing."

Buying a radon test at a home improvement store is cheap, around $15 dollars. Calling in a professional to test will run you $150 to $200.

But mitigation, and actually fixing the problem, can cost you thousands.

"It's usually anywhere from $1500 up to $15,00 depending on the size of the home or condominium," said Yacobacci.